What's Your IoT's Operating System? You Probably Don't Know

The Internet of Things has no security. The topic has been debated, questioned, and underlined for years, but there's never been a real solution. The problem is that most devices on the Internet of Things, ranging from exercise bracelets to smart light bulbs, don't have an operating system in the way consumers usually think of an operating system. Computers and smartphones have an obvious OS, and it's capable of functionality, a convenient interface, and cybersecurity. But the smaller, nondescript devices throughout our lives also have an OS, of a sort. They record data and perform functions. They send that data over your network and connect with your phones and computers.

But, on the whole, they don't have security.

What's the problem with the status quo?

Internet of Things security problems haven't impacted people's lives in the same way major data leaks and traditional malware have. But IoT devices already provide networks that can be harnessed at will for DDOS attacks. They can provide malicious actors with details about your habits and your lifestyle. That's because:

Think about your go-to antivirus software. It probably works across the major operating systems and the major browsers. It might even cover well-known smart security system brands, like Honeywell. But it's not going to be compatible with every brand of smart light bulbs on the market. It won't integrate with your refrigerator or your outdoor thermometer. That means these devices are left entirely unprotected.

Passive systems can rope your devices and Internet to launch attacks.

Not all malware that infiltrates your system is designed to attack you. Instead, dormant problems are waiting to utilize your device's Internet connection to launch attacks on a single powerful entity. By utilizing millions of unprotected, small devices instead of trying to access thousands of better-protected computers, malicious actors can shut down sites or, like in 2016, get very close to disrupting the Internet as a whole.